HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.326 2024-2026From: Alesha Makuakane c
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Sent: Tuesday, December 2, 2025 10:36 AM " CD
To: Council Testimony o
Subject: Alesha Makuakane Support Bill 83 p <�
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Aloha Mai Council Chair Inaba and County Council Members,
`O Alesha Ulu Makuakane ko`u inoa. No Kama`oa, Ka`n mai au. `O Ku`ehulepo ku`u makani, `O Ha`ao ku`u ua.
Aloha kakou. My name is Alesha Ulu Makuakane, and I serve as the REO Program Director with Recycle
Hawaii and the Ka`n Global Learning Lab.
"He ali`i ka aina, he kauwa ke kanaka," an `Olelo No`eau from TTA5 Mary Kawena Pukui, reminds us that the
land is chief and we are its servants. This proverb calls us to honor our kuleana, to care for the health and well-
being of our `aina. Supporting Bill 83 is an example of living that kuleana.
Phasing out single -use plastic and polystyrene foodware across Hawaii County is a critical step toward
reducing the waste entering our landfill and preventing toxic plastics from further contaminating our `aina, our
kai, and our bodies. These materials do not serve our communities, they harm them. We highly recommend
reading Matt Simon's "A poison like no other".
Our Ka`n `6pio of Malama 'Aina Compostables, have embraced the responsibility of carrying zero waste
practices into our schools and our community. Their work shows that alternative solutions, such as
compostable foodware, do work. Their leadership grounds us again in a circular, regenerative system that
reflects our values and honors our future generations.
They have followed a simple system of composting food scraps, compostable foodware and bio plastics in an
Oklin in -vessel composting unit that can take up to 165 lbs a day. The same company has a larger model, the
GG-500, that can take up to 3000 lbs a day and is meant for larger infrastructure like hotels, supermarkets and
airports. Visit https•//oklininternational.com/commercial/ to see more. This could be the type of equipment
needed in order to properly manage and give a solution to the concerns raised. Compost through this
equipment can go back to our local farmers and agricultural programs providing another circular system within
our island.
There is a whole movement willing to offer solutions for the betterment of our ' aina and communities. We
need to work together.
Mahalo for the opportunity to speak, I urge you to support Bill 83 and listen to the voices of our youth.
Mahalo,
Alesha Makuakane
Naalehu 96772
Me ke aloha,
Ulu Makuakane Comm. 1
Recycle Hawaii - EPA REO Grant Program Program Director Ref. To:
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